5/10/2018

DRUGS/PHARMA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump on Friday [5-10-18] plans to outline a series of initiatives aimed at curbing drug prices, unveiling a blueprint to drive down costs amid complaints that Washington has done little to address the issue. The speech, which has been twice delayed, is spurring skepticism from industry experts and Democrats who say it won’t make a serious dent in costs. They say the proposals fall short of Mr. Trump’s pledge to go after pharmaceutical companies he said last year were ‘getting away with murder.’ Some industry officials, for their part, say they are relieved to have been spared moves on a scale that would wreck their industries and, in turn, hamper drug innovation or access. Mr. Trump’s speech on combating high drug prices will be accompanied by proposed rules and a broad request for input from manufacturers, health providers, patients and others, according to people familiar with the plan.”

-Stephanie Armour, Louise Radnofsky and Thomas M. Burton, “Proposal to Curb Drug Prices Would Hand More Competition to Insurers,” The Wall Street Jouranl, May 10, 2018 5:30 am